Which technological innovation has provided near-instantaneous access to information and communication?

A transatlantic telegraph cable is an undersea cable running under the Atlantic Ocean implemented for telegraph communications. The first communications took place on August 16, 1858, reducing the communication time between North America and Europe from ten days (the time it took to deliver a message by ship) to a matter of minutes. Transatlantic telegraph cables have been replaced by transatlantic telecommunications cables.

Explanation:

china unilaterally claims the entire south china sea as sovereign territory, then builds artificial islands to bolster its claim. it suddenly activates an air defense identification zone over the east china sea, and threatens to down any aircraft that does not report its position. it builds roads into indian territory, then redraws the maps to show that it is actually chinese territory. the people's republic under president xi jinping is quickly becoming the bully of asia.